I absolutely love this series! It’s such a fun book with interesting characters, fast paced plot, and wonderful writing.⁣⁣
This book further fleshed out the characters we met in ‘Dangerous Remedy’ and I loved getting to know them even more. ⁣⁣
The cast of characters was, as with ‘Dangerous Remedy’, vastly inclusive and this series is a perfect read if you’re looking for something fun and adventurous to start Pride Month with! ⁣⁣
A perfect blend of historical fiction, romance, and some fantastical/ science fiction elements!⁣⁣

Ok. So I absolutely loved the first in this series Dangerous Remedy. It includes a recap of the events of the first book which I really really wish more books would include.
I loved the multiple POV and the story was just as good as the first book, and I loved jumping back into this world again. I absolutely can’t wait for the next instalment!

This book picks up right as Dangerous Remedy ends and even gives us a recap of what had happened so far, which for me I absolutely loved because no matter how much I love a book I do struggle to remember certain plot points and character names! Having a recap allowed me to dive straight into this story and I ended up devouring it!

I absolutely loved this book and I loved being back in this amazing world that Dunn has created. I'm always concerned with second books as a lot tend to suffer from the second book syndrome but this was not the case. Monstrous Design added so much to the story and was full of action from the get-go.

I loved the multiple POVs, especially seeing it from James' view as I felt like it really added to the story and the development of these characters. I already loved Ada and Camille from Dangerous Remedy and this book just increased my love for these characters, along with the rest of the group who we got to learn more about.

I am so excited to read the next book in this series to see where it takes this group next, especially with how this one ended! If you're looking for an new YA fantasy series then I definitely recommend this one! Kat Dunn's writing is just beautiful and I love this world she has created!

Thank you to Head of Zeus for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the first book and was excited to dive back into this world again. I loved seeing what happened throughout the story. I loved seeing the differing perspectives and seeing the relationship between the characters grow and change. I cant wait for the last book to come out but it is going to be a bit.

I loved the first book and I was so happy to read the second book. Unfortunately this book didn’t grip me as much as the first one and maybe part of that is because I’ve been struggling to focus on anything recently. I found the overall plot enjoyable if a little unbelievable. I still managed to enjoy the story though. I didn’t really enjoy the characters as much in this book, Camille annoyed me and she just seemed a little selfish to me. I did like James and his journey in the book.
Overall this was an okay read for me and I will read the next book.

Monstrous Design, the sequel to Dangerous Remedy, is a book that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. The action starts on the first page and doesn’t let up to the last.

The story starts pretty much from where Dangerous Remedy ends. Camille and Al are following after James in England (James, who also gets his own POV in this one), while Ada and Guil are still in France, continuing with leads there.

I loved Dangerous Remedy last year, so Monstrous Design was, by far and away, one of my most anticipated releases for 2021. I went in, fully expecting to love it, and I did. Every part of the first book that I loved, I did so even more here.

Obviously, the characters were the best part. In this book, not only did you get James’s POV (which I did actually appreciate), but also you got more of Guil’s backstory, and Camille and Al bonding (you may not know you needed this, but you do). Pretty much everything got further fleshed out than in the first book (understandable, since this is a sequel and doesn’t need to spend page time establishing the world now).

For the same, sequel-ish, reasons, the plot moves a fair bit quicker. It’s not long before you’re into it all over again, and the 400-or-so pages pass by in a flash. The one comment I would make, though, is that sometimes it feels a little like too many POVs, and those slow the plot down. But in a kind of not hugely noticeable way. And definitely not in a way that impacted on my enjoyment.

So, if you’re looking for a series to get into, please please try this one. And then you can wait a whole year with me for the final book. It’ll be fun, I promise!

An action packed sequel, MONSTROUS DESIGN plunges back into the world of the Terror as the Battalion of the Dead are divided by the English Channel.

We get a new POV in this entry, James - Camille's fiancé and betrayer. He was quite an enigma in the first book, which was necessary to ensure his motives were uncertain, but now it's nice to see into his mind and understand why he's acting as he is. Plus it helps round him out as a character, with his own complexities and twisted loyalties.

This sequel takes us to London! I love books set in London written by Londoners - there's a level of authenticity to the setting - from getting streets to travel right. I love my home and I love seeing it done justice. You can tell there has been a fair bit of research done into what 1790s London and Paris were like, with lots of little details sprinkled in. The clothing and food is just as superbly done.

There are some anachronisms in the language - things like OK (mid-19th century, and also came into usage in America first) and teenager (20th century, also American). I doubt most would notice it, but it did pull me out at times because they're very easy words to work around (Olympe would be calling herself a girl not a teenager etc.)

MONSTROUS DESIGN is one of those books where, on a basic plot level, seemingly not much has changed by the end. (It's hard to talk here without spoilers, so apologies if it's either too vague or lets spoilers slip.) Camille hasn't achieved her primary goal and Ada is sort of where she started. However, it feels like a lot has happened, both in terms of actions taken (and allies lost and won) and in terms of the emotional blows sustained.

The ending sets up a high stakes final book in the trilogy which cannot arrive soon enough.

Wow all I can say is wow this is an amazing book. This book was an extremely soild read and flown real well. Setting at the French revolution was just as amazing as her first book. This book follows on from previous events.

The French Revolution! We are back, The Battalion of the Dead are split in two. James has taken Olympe to England with Al and Camille in hot pursuit while Ada and Guil are left at home to keep peepers on the dastartedly duc.
This was a fairly enjoyable romp, there’s not a great deal of politics or history, the revolution itself is very much background noise to what’s happening with Olympe the electric girl. I liked James’ journey in this book, I felt he was probably the most authentic 19 year old of the lot; trying to prove himself and making a mess of it because he doesn’t know who he is yet. We are all idiots when we are 19. I do however find it hard to believe that a peer of the realm would marry his 19 year old first son off to a penniless French runaway but there’s a lot of imagination stretching in this book (Hot Frankenstein/ Electric girl) so sure fine.
My big stumbling block with these books is Camille and Ada I can’t stand either of them. Camille is terrible she’s selfish, bossy, unthinking, careless of everyone around her and uses them for her own ends but they all love her, why? She’s awful. She looks down her nose at James family who take her in, feed her, clothe her, love her as one of their own and she mocks them for it. She’s a snob. Ada isn’t much better she puts everything at risk to satisfy her own need to be recognised for her perceived genius.
Al is one of the only characters to speak any sense and Guil is an absolute hero his only failing is that he likes Camille (again why?) even Olympe has her head on properly and she was imprisoned in an iron mask for years.
It’s silly but it’s fun.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc! A wonderful sequel! If you enjoyed the first book please pick this one up!!

Thank you Head of Zeus and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of Monstrous Design in exchange for an honest review.

Monstrous Design follows immediately on from the closing events of Dangerous Remedy. Camille is separated from Ada, and with Al are determined to find Olympe and her kidnapper.

Of course Camille has a plan, but it’s dangerous at best and foolhardy at worst, but time is running out and they soon find themselves amidst the world of English gentility, having to manoeuvre their way through all the hurdles of that, whilst also tracking down Olympe. In the meantime, Ada and Guil are left behind in Paris to put the pieces together and try to salvage the gang before everything implodes and the monstrous batallón are no more.

Monstrous Design takes quite a different turn from Monstrous Remedy, delving more into the background, personalities and emotions of the gang. The pace doesn’t falter, but there is more depth, of course there are experiments and so much more. However, for me the character insights added a new nuance to the story, bringing the reasons and justification for certain behaviours to life.

I will say that as a middle book, it was an improvement in a few I’ve read, and it has left me wanting the third book now!

This is the sequel to Dangerous Remedy, a book set during the French Revolution and following a band of outcasts saving people from the guillotine. I love books set in during this time period and I think the author did a great job transporting us back there. Monstrous Design is a fast paced and enjoyble read with great characters.

Monstrous design is the explosive follow up to Kat Dunn's whirlwind debut, Dangerous Remedy.
This book starts right where book 1 left off and is action-packed right from the start. We watch our batillion get torn apart, moulded back together and then broken again throughout this crazy book, and I loved every second of it. Much like Dangerous Remedy, this book is full of a rich French culture, with surprises at every corner and leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about the characters. I loved it so much!!

Monstrous Design follows directly on from Dangerous Remedy – Camille, separated from Ada, and Al are determined to find Olympe’s kidnapper. Camille has a plan, but it’s dangerous at best and time is running out before she’ll have to actually go through with it.

Meanwhile, the experiments with power haven’t ended with Olympe and a new, horrifying one is taking place.

I loved Dangerous Remedy but for some reason, Monstrous Design didn’t quite grab me in the same way. In the first book, I felt like there was a goal and fast paced writing to get us there. This book just seemed to meander on with no real point. Maybe it was a case of middle book syndrome for me, or maybe I just wasn’t quite in the headspace I needed to be in. The experiment angle was interesting but the rest seemed to just be a lot of not much happening 😕 I will definitely still read the next book though!

Monstrous Design is the sequel to Dangerous Remedy, following the continuing antics of the battalion des morts, who have now been seperated with Camille and Al in England and Ada and Guil remaining in Paris. The first book focuses largely on the french revolution, but this book takes an frankensteinen turn and becomes more of a horror/manhunt for Olympe as many factions all want her for their own purposes.

I liked seeing the characters we know from book one seperate, as I feel like this gives them time to reflect on their actions from book 1 and grow as people. I of course shipped Ada and Camille in book 1 but I feel like they benefitted from being seperated for the majority of this novel as we got to see them both as indviduals and pursuing things (well Ada at least) they really wanted. Also sapphic pining >>>>>>

A minor detail that I'm sure will bother no-one lese is that we find out towards the end that Camille has a terminal lung disease, and as a curious medical student I really wanted to know the actual diagnosis lol. I'm assuming its Consumption (pulmonary TB) given the time period and symptoms but Kat Dunn if you are reading this please enlighten me haha. Also on this storyline, I think it's going to add an extra layer of angst in book 3 and I'm very curious if the series will have a tragic ending or not.

We see a lot more of James in this book, somewhat of an antagonist in book 1 as Camille's financee from England who shows up unexpectedly and at the end betrays them and steals Olympe for himself, we get to understand a lot more about his character and motivations. I felt ambivalent towards him in book one but in this book he was probably my favourite character! I loved seeing his growth and his general struggle with trying to impress others but losing himself in the process.

I really enjoyed the plot in this book, its slightly more slow moving than book one but I enough this and I feel like it gives time for the tension to brew. I also liked exploring the body snatchers and medical "advances" in the 18th century.

In conclusion I really enjoyed this, the characters are fun to follow, the plot is engaging and it's all backed by solid writing with a great historical setting.

What another great book from Kat! I love these guys so much, they love so deeply for each other and what they believe in! And that ending !!!

This is the fast-paced sequel to Dangerous Remedy (Battalion of the Dead, Book 1).

We pick up mere minutes after the previous book, on a madcap dash to London. The revolution continues in France, and our heroes are scattered to the winds. Death! Intrigue! Electromagnetism!

It is an enjoyable, and tangled tale, deftly making use of the multiple locations and the fear which attracts people to each other. At its heart is a story about love, betrayal, and class envy. When you trust someone – with your life – and they let you down, how do you find the strength to forgive them?

Of course, as the middle of a trilogy, it is a good deal darker than its predecessor. It gets a bit grim and bloody at times – but, thankfully, never needlessly gratuitous. As before, the chapters are short and snappy – never letting you catch your breath. With a dozen characters stabbing each other in the back, it can bit a little tricky to work out who is double-crossing who – but it builds to a dizzying finale.

I re read Dangerous Remedy which I had purchased previously in case I had forgotten important parts of it. This is a series, and so Monstous Design was the second book. I enjoyed the novel, and think it is a good historical novel, concerning the French Revolution. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advance copy of this book